Argyranthemum plant named ‘SUN 360’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘SUN 360’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; pompon-type inflorescences with dark red purple-colored ray florets that are initially white in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Argyranthemum frutescens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUN 360’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SUN 360’.

The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Argyranthemum plants with attractive ray and disc floret colors and good garden performance and pest resistance.

The new Argyranthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in August, 2010 in Glandorf, Germany of two unnamed seedling selections of Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented. The new Argyranthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in July, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum plant by vegetative tip cuttings was first conducted in Glandorf, Germany in March, 2012. Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Argyranthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Argyranthemum plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUN 360’ as a new and distinct Argyranthemum plant:

-   -   1. Compact and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Pompon-type inflorescences with dark red purple-colored ray         florets that are initially white in color.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the parent selections primarily in plant size and uniformity.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can be compared to plants of Argyranthemum frutescens ‘Percussion Cymbals Light Pink’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Glandorf, Germany, plants of the new Argyranthemum differed from plants of ‘Percussion Cymbals Light Pink’ primarily in inflorescence form as plants of ‘Percussion Cymbals Light Pink’ had anemone-type inflorescences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Argyranthemum showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Argyranthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SUN 360’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘SUN 360’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany under cultural practices typical of commercial potted Argyranthemum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 28° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 25 klux to 90 klux. Plants were pinched one time three to four weeks after planting and were 2.5 months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum frutescens ‘SUN 360’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 8 to 10 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 15 days at             temperatures about 14° C. to 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 16             days at temperatures about 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 16 to 20             days at temperatures about 14° C. to 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine to medium in thickness, fibrous;             white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous; compact and uniform             mounding plant habit; upright to broadly spreading form;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching growth habit with about             six lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy             plant form; pinching enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 18.9 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 27.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10.2 cm. Diameter: About             5 mm. Internode length: About 8 mm. Strength: Strong; young             stems, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             144A; thin waxy cuticle, close to 193B to 193C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 7.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Pinnatisect; in outline, obovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Pinnatifid; laciniate.         -   Sinuses.—Parallel to slightly convergent.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly leathery.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 141A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C; venation,             close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence form and arrangement.—Pompon-type terminal and             axillary inflorescences borne above and beyond the foliar             plane; ray florets arranged acropetally on a receptacle;             inflorescences face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 96             inflorescences develop per plant.         -   Flowering season.—Plants flower from spring to late summer             in Germany; flowering continuous during this period.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about two weeks             on the plant; inflorescences not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance detected.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Towards the base,             close to 137D; mid-section, close to 199B; towards the apex,             close to 145B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.3 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.4 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 6 mm. Receptacle             height: About 4 mm.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 300 arranged in multiple whorls. Length: About 1.5 cm             to 1.8 cm. Width: About 3 mm to 6 mm. Shape: Oblong to             slightly obovate; slightly reflexed with development. Apex:             Obtuse to shallowly retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N155B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 75D; towards the apex,             close to 73C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between             61A and 71A; color becoming closer to 64A with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 70C.         -   Disc florets.—Typically not observed.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 24 arranged in two whorls. Length: About 6 mm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; margins, papery. Color, upper surface:             Close to 144C; margins, close to 199D. Color, lower surface:             Close to 143A; margins, close to 199D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5.9 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 5.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Angle: Mostly erect to about 40° from vertical. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             between 137D and 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Filament length: About 1 mm. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 12A.             Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 17A.             Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil             length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color:             Close to 12A. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close             to 150D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Argyranthemum. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Argyranthemum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     high temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Argyranthemum plant named ‘SUN 360’ as illustrated and described. 